Diabetic encephalopathy: beneficial effects of supplementation with fatty acids [omega]3 and nordihydroguaiaretic acid in a spontaneous diabetes rat model

• Published in: Lipids in health and disease Vol. 18; no. 1
• Main Authors: Díaz-Gerevini, Gustavo Tomás, Daín, Alejandro, Pasqualini, María Eugenia, López, Cristina B, Eynard, Aldo R, Repossi, Gastón
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BioMed Central Ltd 08-02-2019
• Subjects: Antioxidants (Nutrients); Brain; Brain damage; Brain research; Central nervous system; Complications and side effects; Diabetes mellitus; Dyslipidemias; Encephalopathy; Fatty acids; Health aspects; Laboratory rats; Medical research; Oxidative stress; Risk factors; Type 2 diabetes; Unsaturated fatty acids; Argentina
• ISSN: 1476-511X; 1476-511X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12944-018-0938-7

Background Diabetic encephalopathy is a chronic complications of diabetes mellitus that affects the central nervous system. We evaluated the effect of [omega]3 and [omega]6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) supplementation plus the antioxidant agent nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on the etiopathology of diabetic encephalopathy in eSS rats, a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes. Methods One hundred twenty spontaneous diabetic eSS male rats and 38 non-diabetic Wistar, used as healthy control, received monthly by intraperitoneal route, [omega]3 or [omega]6 PUFA (6.25 mg/kg) alone or plus NDGA (1.19 mg/kg) for 12 months. Diabetic rats had a worse performance in behavioural Hole-Board test. Histopathological analysis confirmed lesions in diabetic rats brain tissues. We also detected low expression of synaptophysin, a protein linked to release of neurotransmitters, by immunohistochemically techniques in eSS rats brain. Biochemical and histopathological studies of brain were performed at 12th month. Biochemical analysis showed altered parameters related to metabolism. High levels of markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were detected in plasma and brain tissues. Data were analysed by ANOVA test and paired t test was used by comparison of measurements of the same parameter at different times. Results The data obtained in this work showed that behavioural, biochemical and morphological alterations observed in eSS rats are compatible with previously reported indices in diabetic encephalopathy and are associated with increased glucolipotoxicity, chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress burden. Experimental treatments assayed modulated the values of studied parameters. Conclusions The treatments tested with [omega]3 or [omega]3 plus NDGA showed improvement in the values of the studied parameters in eSS diabetic rats. These observations may form the basis to help in prevent and manage the diabetic encephalopathy. Keywords: Diabetic encephalopathy, Polyunsaturated fatty acids [omega]3, Nordihydroguaiaretic acid, eSS rats, diabetes mellitus